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Tackle debt first, then infrastructure: Abbott

Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says reducing the country's debt is more important than allocating funding to build a ring road and football stadium in Mackay.

Mackay Regional Mayor Col Meng published a full-page ad in the local paper yesterday, telling Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Mr Abbott that a ring road is needed to improve road safety.

But Mr Abbott says Government spending needs to be reduced.

"I say to Mr Rudd and to the Mayor and to everyone else; we've got to get the debt and deficit under control," he said.

"Once we've got the debt and deficit under control then it'll be a lot easier to help with the sort of infrastructure that the people of Mackay are entitled to expect."

Mr Rudd committed $8.8 million building a new football stadium in Mackay in the last federal election, but more funds may be needed.

Mr Abbott says he is not promising more money for the stadium if he is elected, but he is listening to the concerns of locals.

"I'm not going to rush into things, but never the less I'm listening to what [the Mayor] has to say and I appreciate that the people of Mackay deserve a fair deal and that's what I hope they'll get from a Coalition government," he said.